A Personal Best.

Since my baby book is pretty worn, I am recording this accomplishment on my blog.

We live on high ground, so whenever I go biking I end up having to climb hills on the way back home.

The most challenging is the Montreal Ave Hill through Highland Park.

It has my goal for years to make it up this hill on my bike without having to stop.

I was discouraged last September that I could not make it even at the end of the season when I should have been in top biking condition.

Yesterday, at the end of a 20 mile trip, I made it up the hill without stopping!

This did involve running a red light partway up the hill but the risk was worth it.

I wanted to return to the bottom of the hill today to take a photo but I was afraid yesterday's success may have been a once in a lifetime event. I did not want to spoil the mood by having to walk my bike back up.

So below is a Flickr photo that represents how the incline feels as one bikes up it.

There is no Coit Tower at the top of our hill but the Highland Water tower is nearby.

St.Paul

Gardening, the struggle goes on.....

My plants and I are gaining a little ground in our struggle with the animals that are out to destroy all living vegetation. After losing a tomato plant overnight, I bought a larger one at the Farmer's Market.

While unloading the car, I noticed a squirrel was already examining the new replacement plant I had set down on the driveway.

I quickly repotted it , encircled it in wire and put bird netting over the top.

I photographed it today in case it does not make it through the night.

Teddy is doing his part by standing guard.

Garden Wars

The devasation started over the winter.

The usual suspects left lots of evidence.

In the spring I built cages for the shrubs and gardens .

I started seedlings indoors in April.

On a nice spring day I put them outdoors to "harden".

But they were not strong enough to withstand the animals.

Even a full grown Dalhia was not tough enough.....

Now I have double fencing and bird netting over the gardens.

I am losing many battles a day.

I am getting a headache.

And so are the animals...

Healthy Cooking in Napa

For several days in April I attended a course put on by Harvard and the C.I.A. that taught healthy cooking to medical professionals . We left with lots of enthusiasm and lots of great recipes. See a sample recipe >>>>>>>>>